Gloomy synth pop on the brink: Why “Only One” is an absolute must-listen
The band Cortlandt Alley had already won me over completely back in January 2025 with their song ‘(Catastrophe)’ – it was the powerful lyrics in particular that really struck a chord with me at the time. So I was all the more excited about their new single ‘Only One’, and I wasn’t disappointed. The line “You’re not the only one / who has wounds that slow you down” strikes a chord deep within me and moves me profoundly. It is a love song for a world on the brink: “Dancy and dark”, as the band themselves put it.
You’re not the only one
Who has wounds that slow you down
Lyrics of "Only One" performed by "Cortlandt Alley"
Sonically, the track comes across as extremely mature and grown-up. Comparisons to greats like Depeche Mode or Mesh are more than fair here. The dark tone and rich sound are testament to a perfect production, whilst the vocals hit every single note with emotion. It’s simply a brilliant sound and, for me, an absolute must-listen!
Listen to "Cortlandt Alley – Only One" on Spotify
Listen to "Cortlandt Alley – Only One" on Bandcamp
Lyrics of "Cortlandt Alley – Only One"
Let us pretend
I was the one in control
If it were true
what I would have done to you
I would dance the floor
and never call your name
I would break your stare
and leave you in your shame
You're not the only one
who has wounds that slow you down
You're not the only one
standing on the edge
Let us pretend
you were the one in control
If it were true
what you would have done to me
You would dance the floor
and never call my name
You would break my stare
and leave me in my shame
I'm not the only one
who has wounds that slow me down
I'm not the only one
standing on the edge
You're not the only one
I'm not the only one
We would dance the floor
and never call our names
We would break our stares
and leave us inour shame
We're not the only ones
who have wounds that slow us down
we're not the onlhy ones
standing on the edge
